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Rhys Ifans Joins the Cast of Sam Mendes' Upcoming 'James Bond 23'

More casting news for MGM's upcoming Bond 23, being directed by Sam Mendes. It was confirmed a few weeks ago that Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris and Ralph Fiennes were all officially cast in the new Bond film, now we also know that Welsh actor Rhys Ifans is joining. The news comes from The Telegraph (via Bleeding Cool) where they confirm: "Ifans will appear in the film, as well as Javier Bardem, who will play the baddie." They also add, "much of the filming will take place in South Africa." Unfortunately no details on who he'll play. Maybe a henchman? Either way, I'm extremely excited that a new Bond flick is in the works.

Rhys Ifans is a BAFTA nominated actor on the rise, appearing in films like The Informers, Pirate Radio, Mr. Nobody, Mr. Nice, Greenberg, Nanny McPhee Returns, Passion Play and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 as Xenophilius Lovegood. But his biggest roles are yet to come, with Edward de Vere aka Shakespeare in Roland Emmerich's Anonymous (watch the trailer), and especially Dr. Curt Connors aka The Lizard in Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man (you can see a first look photo of Ifans here). He's a great actor, glad to see him landing mmore roles, plus it's just great to see more Brits getting cast in the next Bond. Can't wait to see what Mendes is up to. Playwright Patrick Marber is said to be working on the script.

Bond 23 will also star returning actors Daniel Craig as 007 and Judi Dench as M, as well as the three aforementioned newcomers. The script was originally being worked on Peter Morgan, but now has credits from John Logan, Neal Purvis and Robert Wade. Though Telegraph is now saying that Marber "was wanted by Mendes as [Morgan's] replacement", so who knows how many writers have taken a crack at this script. We'll continue keep you updated on all things Bond!

A friend recently mocked me for not knowing who Rhys Ifans was. So I checked his IMDB page, and I watch a ton of movies, yet oddly enough I had never seen anything he had been in.
Until, that is, I saw him in Harry Potter last weekend. I became an instant fan, and very much look forward to seeing him in Bond 23.

Craig on Jul 18, 2011

6

My favorite franchise is back on track...

Anonymous on Jul 19, 2011

7

As long as the green vegetable is running Eon she will be ruining it further with Craig as a waste as Bond.